judgement. As a counterpart to the parallel between Hugh Peters. and Dr. Price, he inftitutes a comparifon between the violence of Judge Jefferies prefiding at the trial of Mr. Richard Baxter, and the intemperance of Mr. Burke arraigning the Doctor at the tribunal of the public.

On the fubject of amending the reprefentation of the Commons, the author, with great truth, obferves, that Mr. Burke's own principles, of admitting no popular rights but fuch as can be deduced from ancient cuftom, precedent, and inheritance, (unfriendly as that principle, in many inftances, is to general liberty,) will not fupport him in his oppofition to that most juft and neceflary measure. Since the privilege of fending deputies to parliament was annexed to the places which now enjoy that right, time has made, and it will fill continue to make, valt alterations in the relative importance of different towns and cities; raifing fome, which were formerly infignificant, to great population and wealth; and finking others, which once were eminent, into defolation and ruin. Unlefs, therefore, the right of election be transferred, and the reprefentation altered, from time to time, fo as to correfpond to the viciffitude of human affairs, the House of Commons, in a feries of years, inftead of being, what it was in the days of our forefathers, a real reprefentation of the people, muft neceffarily become, as Dr. Price said, a mockery and a nuisance. In this cafe, pofterity will be so far from poffeffing a conftitution, which they inherit from their ancestors, that the conftitution will be totally changed. Inflead of being compofed, as it originally was, of the three eftates, King, Lords, and Commons, it will confift only of the first two: for a nominal House of Commons, appointed for decayed boroughs, by the Crown, or by the Ariftocracy, is no Houfe of Commons; or rather, it is worse than none; and thus the wisdom and excellence of the British government, celebrated and admired, above all things for that which is indeed its effence, a legiflature formed by an equal balance of three free and independent branches, would be no where to be found but in the books of theorists. If, therefore, Mr. Burke would be confiftent with himself, and would really preferve inviolated the inheritance of our ancient conftitution, he ought to be an advocate for a parliamentary reform.

Indeed we have often wondered that the whole body of the people, every clafs and defcription of men, are not more alive to the queftion of a free and equal reprefentation; the most important and comprehenfive of all queftions. Weighed against this, the contentions about pulling down one minifter and fetting up another; about repealing an old tax, and fubftituting a new one; about the wifdom of this particular law, and the folly of that; which are purfued fo eagerly, appear to us lighter than the duft upon the balance. The question of reprefentation is of fuch magnitude, that, if it has proper attention, it will furnish a remedy for every evil; if neglected, it will open a door for every mifchief.

Toward the clofe of his ftrictures, the author touches flightly on fome ecclefiaftical matters, as to the right of the ftate to meddle with the revenues of the church. He maintains that, if the state

has

has a right to form a national church establishment, it poffeffes an equal right to appoint the nature and quantum of the provifion proper for its fupport: he reminds the clergy, that tithes were originally granted for two purposes; the fupport of the poor, as well as the fupport of the church: that the maintenance of the poor was an ecclefiaftical concern: that a fourth part of the tithes, in every parish, was fet apart for that ufe: that there was then no other provifion made for the poor: that the clergy have now engroffed this fourth part of the tithes, which he eftimates at five hundred thousand pounds per annum, to themselves, and contribute to the poor only a proportionate fhare of the parochial affeffments; nearly the whole of which is raifed from the landed property, and amounts to one million five hundred thou fand pounds; and, as his eftimate of the whole of the church revenue, which, in his pamphlet on the teft-act, he rated at between three and four millions annually, has been thought to be exaggerated, he declares his intention fhortly to lay before the public fuch information as will confirm Pear.

the truth of his calculation.

Art. 25. Comparison of the Opinions of Mr. Burke, and Monf. RoufJeau, on Government Reform, and Strictures on the Answers to Mr. Burke. 8vo. pp. 56. 2s. Lowndes, Drury-lane. 1791. We never predict favourably of a writer's judgment and fenfe, who approaches us with a declaration, that he is fuperior to thofe frailties which are the common lot of all mankind. When, therefore, at the opening of his performance, this author told us, that he might claim exemption from prejudice,' we felt our expectations confiderably abated: but fill we did not conceive that matters would turn out fo ill as we afterward found them: we did not imagine that he laboured under the groffeft of all prejudices, that of fuppofing himself qualified to write on the higheft fubjects, without being furnished with the requifites neceffary to write with propriety on the loweft; that is, without a competent knowlege of orthography, grammar, and the elements of ratiocination. He declares himself a convert to Mr. Burke's book,' and fays, he is proud of his new faith.' We will venture to fay, that Mr. Burke will not be proud of his new difciple. Romantic and extravaganc as the Right Hon. Gentleman may be thought, by fome who have not fcrupled to ftyle him a Don Quixote, we believe there is no one, even of those who think him the wildeft, that will fufpect him of having had any hand in the appointment of fuch a Sancho as this to be his 'Squire.

The comparifon between Mr. Burke's Reflections, and Rouffeau's Tract on the Government of Poland, is about as just and ingenious, as honeft Fluellen's comparifon between Macedon and Monmouth: "There is a river in Macedon; and there is alfo moreover a river at Monmouth: it is called Wye at Monmouth; but it is out of my prains, what is the name of the other river; but 'tis all one, 'tis fo like as my fingers is to my fingers, and there is falmons in both *.”

*Shakspeare's Hen, V. A&t iv. fc. 7.

A.

As to the ftrictures on Mr. Burke's opponents; which are very impartially divided between the ladies and the gentlemen, Mesdames Wollstonecraft and Macaulay, and Mefirs. Rous and Lofft; they would difgrace a common newfpaper. Pear. Art. 26. Reflections upon Reflections, including fome Obfervations or the Conftitution and Laws of England; particularly on Preffing, on the Excife, on Libels, &c. in two Letters to the Right Hon. Edmund Burke, in anfwer to his Pamphlet. By Robert Woolfey, Gent. 8vo. PP. 101. 2s. 6d. Stewart.

1790.

Of these two letters, the first chiefly confifts of a bundle of Scraps: fuch as men, filled with ideas of their own wit and cleverness, often write in the margin of whatever books they read. We will give a fpecimen or two of Mr. Woolfey's annotatiuncula on the different pages of Mr. Burke's book: Page 1 to 3. Exordium.'- Page 7 to 13. A great bundle of metaphyfics and general ftuff.'- Page 13 to 16. Irrelevant farrago.'- Page 112 and 113. Don Quixote and Dulcinda del Tobofo.'

Such Reflections as thefe, even when they occur in the margin, where they are most expected to be found, are treated, we have observed, in general, as no better than the impertinent effufions of a fcribbler; and we do not imagine, that the collecting them into a pamphlet, will tend to procure them a greater degree of the public favour.

The other letter is an ironical panegyric on several particulars of the British conftitution; and more especially on thofe laws which relate to the fubjects mentioned in the title-page. It is intended to fhew, that this conftitution is not fuch a model of perfection as Mr. Burke would have the world believe. If we fhould allow, as we do, that there is fome truth and justice in feveral of Mr. Woolfey's obfervations, yet we cannot admit this to be a fufficient atonement for his great rudeness and want of breeding, in the first letter; and for his extreme coarfenefs and indelicacy, in the fecond-things which, though they might be overlooked in a clown, are inexcufable in one who tells us, at his first approach, that he is a gentleman!

ANIMAL MAGNETISM.

Art. 27. Animal Magnetism examined: in a Letter to a Country Gentleman. By John Martin. 12mo. pp. 69. 15. Stock

dale. 1790.

It should feem, from this publication, that the fpirit of controverfy is the highest, where the parties understand leaft of the subject in difpute: accordingly, we find Mr. Martin writing about animal magnetism, when he confeffedly knew nothing of its nature. As foon as the fecret was divulged to him, he feems, and we think rightly, to have loft all views of reasoning in the bufinefs. What then is the fecret? Take it in his own words. There must be, ift, Self-abftraction, 2d, Attention, 3d, Intention, 4th, Affection or Defire, 5th, Sympathy, 6th, Volition, 7th, Confidence;' and this is the grand fecret of magnetilm.'-Rifum tencatis ! O. Art.

Art. 28. The Examiner examined, in fix Letters to the Rev. John Martin, on the Subject of his Letter entitled Animal Magnetism examined. By the Analyzer. 12mo. pp. 71. IS. Mathews.

1791.

We think that the Analyzer' might have employed his time to better purpose, than in compofing these letters: his numerous quo tations from fcripture would have appeared more applicable on other topics. We recommend him to follow the advice which he offers to his antagonist, and to ftudy in future to be quiet and to do his own business.'

0.

Art. 29. The Secret revealed; or Animal Magnetifm difplayed. A Letter from a young Lady to the Rev. John Martin. 12mo. pp. 12. 2d. Hawkins.

This letter confifts of quotations from Mr. Martin's pamphlet ; and is fo much more valuable than the original, as it contains lefs nonfenfe. 0. Art. 30. A plain and practical Diflay of Animal Magnetism; in which is exhibited different Modes of Treatment, with Rules and neceffary Qualifications for the Operator's Experience. By W. V. Philomath. 2d Edition. 8vo. pp. 16. 2s. 6d. Taylor. 1791. If this be really, as is here afferted, a fecond edition, we can only regret that readers fhould be found to encourage fuch a catchpenny performance.

6

0.

Art. 31. A plain and rational Account of the Nature and Effects of Animal Magnetism: in a Series of Letters. With Notes and an Appendix, by the Editor. 8vo. pp. 51. 1s. Stratford. 1790. This plain and rational account' is in fact an ironical attack on the practice of animal magnetism; which is here expofed with fome fuccefs. In the appendix, the writer treats the fubject feriously; and we hope that the joint efforts of humour and reafoning will tend to fupprefs thefe unmeaning and fraudulent mummeries.

LAW.

0.

Art. 32. Obfervations on the Utility of Patents, and on the Sentiments of Lord Kenyon respecting that Subject. Including free Remarks on Mr. Beetham's Patent Washing Mills; and Hints to those who folicit for Patents. 8vo. pp. 55. Is. Ridgway.

1791.

All patents are, in their nature, monopolies; and the public good requires that they should not be granted with too much facility. It is indeed true that, when the invention for which a patent is granted is not new, there can be no danger in infringing it but perfons who are convinced of this, may not chufe to incur an expenfive litigation with the patentee. We therefore think there is great weight in the obfervation of Lord Kenyon, cited in this pamphlet, that," by giving one man an exclufive privilege to make any particular article, the hands of the working tradefmen in the fame bufinefs are tied up."

On the other fide, it must be admitted that works of real ingenuity and merit, which add to the real conveniencies of life, deREV, APRIL 1791. I i ferve

ferve encouragement. The writer of this publication contends that the best mode of beftowing this reward, without burdening the public, is by giving the inventor a patent. His arguments have confiderable plaufibility, and are written in a pleafing ftyle. It appears, however, that his object is rather to recommend Mr. Beetham's patent in particular, than to promote patents in general. Of the practical ufes of Mr. B's patent washing mills, we feel ourfelves but very imperfect judges. We are inclined to think that, if a Jury of Matrons were impannelled on the queflion, their verdict would be more fatisfactory than that of a Jury of Reviewer; though we are not ignorant that certain wicked wits have fometimes bestowed on us the honourable title of Old Women.

MEDICAL.

T.

We now proceed to give fome account of feveral publications in this clafs, which, from various accidents, have, for a long time, been excluded from their merited places in our work. Art. 33. A Differtation on the Procefs of Nature in filling up the Cavities, healing of Wounds, and rettoring of Parts that have been destroyed in the Human Body; which obtained the Prize-medal given by the Lyceum Medicum Londinenfe for the Year 1789. By James Moore, Member of the Surgeons Company of London. 4to. pp. 76. 2s. 6d. Johnfon. 1789.

The questions propofed, were, In what manner are cavities, whether formed by fuppurations, wounds, or otherwife, filled up?What are the appearances of their filling up properly? In what manner is the new fkin formed? What are the fymptoms of its forming properly? In what cafes, and in what manner, are the parts, which were deftroyed, restored?'

As the questions, or the parts into which the queftion is divided, are judiciously arranged by the propofers, according to the natural fucceffion of events which occur, the author has, in the divifion of his Differtations, followed the fame order, uniting the first and fecond into one chapter, the third and fourth into another, and treating the fifth in a chapter by itself.

When any of the functions of the body are disturbed, or even the ftructure of it injured, fuch natural operations are immediately excited, as have a tendency to restore the animal machine to its former ftate. Admitting this falutary difpofition*, Mr. Moore fuppofes it to excite inflammation over the whole of the internal furface of the cavity, which inflammation enables the blood veffels to form a subftance capable of uniting the oppofite fides of the cavity, or filling it up. He proceeds to treat largely on inflammation, and on the fever with which it is ufually accompanied. Of the oppofite opinions, whether inflammation produces fever, or fever the inflammation, he adopts the latter. As two different kinds of inflammation, viz. the adhefive and fuppurative, are the ufual means by which wounds are healed, he describes each of them, and the manner in which they

*The VIS MEDICATRIX NATURE of the German medical fchools, and perhaps the yea of the Greeks.

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produce